Sherlock Holmes, the Victorian detective with an impressive ability for solving a case, is one of the most famous characters in English literature.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Volume I is a great mystery book for first-time readers of Sherlock Holmes or for people already interested in mystery genre.

The anthology of stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle includes some of the most famous collections of Sherlock Holmes stories, such as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, in addition to longer stories, such as the well-known The Hound of the Basquervilles.

Despite the length of the book, it is very manageable to read.

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most well-developed literary characters of all time.  In almost every story, something about his background is revealed, but never too much, leaving him very mysterious. The stories also take the reader through Holmes' methods of deduction, and the explanations often leave the reader amazed.

Holmes is not just intellectual and rational; he is also very physically strong and an expert in martial arts. On the downside, he is very anti-social and often smokes the day away. He is egocentric and passionate. He is a character that the reader finds actually looking up to and respecting, despite his often rash actions.

Holmes is contrasted to his roommate Dr. John Watson, who chronicles Holmes's adventures and is polite and nice. Although he is intelligent, he never seems to be able to deduce how Holmes solves his cases. The stories are narrated by Watson so that the reader is just as surprised as he was when the mystery is revealed.

The stories present a Victorian London at the height of its power. The Industrial Revolution was underway and crime was rampant. The police could handle the ordinary crimes, but when they were complicated, they sought help from Holmes. Holmes's aptitude for solving cases often led him to looking down on the police for their rigid and by-the-books methods.

"Crime is common. Logic is rare," Holmes said on why he solves cases.

A variety of characters are presented in the stories. In some cases, Holmes works with nobles and royalty, and in others, with bank clerks and vagabonds. The settings range from the English countryside to the wharves on the Thames to extravagant manors. In all, the reader gains an appreciation for the scenes of the time.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson make a great crime-solving team. Holmes is a character whom readers will enjoy reading about, as his often casual demeanor is contrasted by his intensity when he is hot on the trail of a case. Watson also is interesting because he is good-natured and supportive to his friend.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Volume I is reasonably priced despite its nearly 700 pages of stories. It features nearly 25 stories, including "A Study in Scarlet," the first Sherlock Holmes story, and "The Final Solution.”